The Versatile Violinist
From Bach to R&B
Korina Marie Davis

Musical Background…
• Suzuki Method

• Arts high school

• Fiddling & Irish tunes

• Classical competitions
• Youth Orchestras

• Conservatory
• Freelancing

Artistic Identity Crisis…
• Leaving classical music behind?
• Feeling out of place in orchestras and having to prove myself

Artistic Identity Crisis…
• Classical vs. Contemporary Music
• Is it possible to do both professionally?

Objectives…
• Learn new contemporary violin playing skills while
maintaining classical techniques
• Write & record 4 original songs
• Prepare classical audition repertoire
• Collaborate on as many styles of music as possible to expand
experience

Methodology…
• Classical practice routine
• Contemporary practice routine
• Songwriting & Composition
• Collaborations

Classical…
• Exercises: Scales, Arpeggios,
& Etudes
• Orchestra Excerpts

• Bach Partita No. 1

• Paganini Caprice No. 24
• Piazzolla Tango Etude No.
1

Contemporary…
• Scales, Rhythm Patterns, Bow
Techniques
• Improvisation: selecting notes
intentionally within each
chord, rhythmic variation,
space

Berklee Audition Video:
Improvisation
March 2017

Improvisation Now
April 2018

Songwriting & Composition: Inspiriation
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Angie Stone
Al Green
Tamia
The Suffers
Sade
Brandy
D’Angelo
Kirby
Tamia
Meshell Ndegeocello

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Alicia Keys
Prince
Teena Marie
Jorja Smith
Tank and the Bangas
Outkast
The Soil
Tom Misch
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

Song 1: “IV”
• First non-classical song I have ever written
• Classical meets R&B
• Started as a simple blues feel:
• Added piano, drums, bass, more strings
• Increased tempo from 52 to 63
• Final Result:

Song 2: “I Wish”
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Singing for the first time
R&B/Soul
Still focused heavily on string parts
Rehearsal Recording:

• Wanted strings to take the place of horns
• New Strings part:
• New Solo part:

Song 3: “Water”
• Latin groove + R&B + strings
• Solo violin intro based on theme:

• Same progression & bass line entire time – hip-hop inspiredlong
violin solo

Song 4: “Your Love”
• 90’s style R&B
• Light, uplifting, with a catchy groove
• Lyrics: simple & relatable
Your love is like a cool breeze on a summer day
A ray of light when the skies are gray
Could be a thousand miles apart
And you’d still take my breath away

• Bass heavy
• Violin improv solo

Collaborations…
• 1. “Sapling for August” – Nan Macmillan – American Folk composition & arrangment
• 2. “Free as the Wind” – Nehir Akansu – Tango - improvisation
• 3. “We Should Stick Together” – Sarah Martinson – Disco – session
player

Reflection & Artistic Identity…

• Growth as a performer,
improviser, and recording artist
• More experience in various
genres of music
• Website/Online presence

• Expanding my artistic
expression
through singing
• Prepared for auditions and
applications